Presentation

Our research displays a strong interest in the interplay between development, genome and evolution. We see biological systems as the products of development - assisted by the genome, but also as the products of evolution - mediated by the genome. As such both the development and the genome can orient possible routes of evolution.

Several projects are focused on cases of repeated evolution (convergent evolution): looking for specific developmental and/or genomic properties associated with repeated evolution (more about it here, here and here).

We are also interested in the evolution of development in relation to the evolution of morphologies. We use a very powerful model system, the rodent molar, studied since the 19th century, and cutting edge approaches at the interface of evolutionary developmental biology and evolutionary genomics (more about it here and here).

The team is headed by Marie Sémon (Assistant professor, ENS Lyon) and Sophie Pantalacci (CR1, CNRS) who bring their complementary expertise in (respectively) evolutionary genomics and evo-devo.